by Joanna Peters | Jan 16, 2020 | Creative
I watched “Forests” by Our Planet on Netflix last night. I was mesmerized as I watched the incredibly detailed connection and dependency between species and plants work beautifully.
I then saw it get brutally wiped out by fire and human indifference or carelessness.
But guess what guys, that wasn’t the end of the story. I saw it regrow, heal and repopulate often in new ways.
Some plants can’t exist in the forest without the fire that came before it.
Even Chernobyl has been re-vegetated and populated to the food chain level of wolves now.
More than just a metaphor, it’s an accurate reflection of what happens in our heart and soul after loss and hurt.
Which make sense, since we have the same loving powerful creator and we are His (Her/It’s) most prize creation.
Most prize creation – hard to internalize after you watch the beauty and miracles in all of nature, but we are so loved and supported.
We can’t possibly comprehend the ‘why’s or the ‘how’s of life in our brains, but we do have the capacity to learn to love ourselves as much as we are loved, and trust that it’s okay to not know how it’s all going to come together.
God has the power to take care of the rest.
Maybe we aren’t yet where we want to be, or who we want to be; we may be uncomfortable or it may feel like everything is being burned to the ground around us.
But it isn’t the end of the story yet guys.
Little miracles happen around us all day every day.
Unlike the plants though, we have free will, so we do need to ask for help.
We need to say “Please help me” or “Show me how to feel more peace and trust”.
Then we need to create the silence in our lives to listen and surrender and learn and heal.
We will regrow, heal and come back a wiser and more resilient version of ourselves; but the real win will be if we also learn to love ourselves harder, if we step closer to Source and surrender a little, perhaps even learn how to reach for and claim moments of peace.
The fire isn’t the end of the story. Ask and receive, and watch the miracles happen ???
by Joanna Peters | Jan 3, 2020 | Random Thoughts
I’m quoting myself here, but this one is important. It was my biggest lesson and it took me the longest to learn fully. It winds up being a part of most private coaching sessions, because – frankly, us women stink at knowing this.
Societal conditioning is against us:
“She is such a good Mom” (when she is running herself ragged for others),
“Bless her, such a good wife “(as she is serving him dinner).
How often are we praised for taking care of ourselves?? Not as often for sure. Which is why we must really know this for ourselves sisters!!!
– Pat ourselves on the back for being kind to ourselves and saying “no” to someone.
– Throw ourselves a dance party when we make time for doing something we love.
– Physically hug and compliment ourselves.
– Smile to ourselves as our relationships improve because we know the recipe for connection with others is self-love. They are welcome ?
by Joanna Peters | Dec 29, 2019 | Healing Tools
Hello Beautiful Souls…
List of rainy day tips as promised. We all have rainy days. What happens when we hit some hard emotions is that the catabolic energy that is released into our bodies limits the options our mind is usually able to see. We get tunnel vision, and can only see the problem or pain. Save this list of tips of things to do in advance when the blues hit, so you can reach for it and give your beautiful soul these gifts.
Please add to the list in the comments or confirm for others what works for you. 🙂
=> Read pre-written love letter to yourself (see instructions below if needed)
=> Give yourself a dance party
=> Write a love letter to your Source/angels/guides.
=> Pray (connect, ask for help, words not important)
=> Use calm/buddhify/clearfear type mindfulness apps to walk you through naming and processing your emotions.
=> Reach out to someone you love.
=> Get creative in whatever way that means to you (draw, paint, garden, write a poem, look through house magazines or Houzz app).
=> Ground yourself in nature (if you can put your feet on earth, hug a tree, be with a body of water)
=> Get some sun on your face.
=> Get lost looking out at the stars and moon.
=> Move your body (walk, bike, dance etc)
=> List out 10 things you are grateful for and why.
=> Make future plans that you will enjoy.
=> Allow and make space to “sit with/in” strong emotions and allow whatever comes out of it with out self judgement.
=> Cuddle up with your pets.
=> Bake something you love to eat, or order it in.
=> Light your favorite candle and sit and daydream.
=> Take a nap.
=> Stretch your muscles out (see anxiety stretches)
=> Take a bath/shower – use the good products.
=> Make a list of places you would like to visit.
=> Browse photos of loved ones.
=> Burn your favorite essential oils.
=> Reach for your favorite crystals.
I’d love to hear what other things works for you in the comments below!!
by Joanna Peters | Dec 29, 2019 | Healing Tools
How do you know if you are “SOUL TIRED” vs exhausted and in need of a vacation?
The tricky part of answering this question is that a large majority of us are both.
Decades of social conditioning has created an epidemic of women who consider that taking care of others before their physical needs is expected.
We are all running around meeting even the cat’s needs before our own. People pleasing, a fear of disappointing others and our own unsustainable standards have many of us considering a pee break at work a personal self-care luxury.
For more on how to stop that madness, stay tuned. Just know that if any of that felt familiar, you are likely walking around dehydrated, somewhat malnourished and likely aren’t getting quality or enough sleep. That all adds up to being plain old exhausted.
So, what’s soul tired?
Some symptoms of soul tired are:
=>You struggle to feel passion for anything positive
=>You feel tired and lack enthusiasm even at beginning of day, but you are a champ at pushing through.
=>You feel like your life is a long list of ‘to-dos’
=>You are not sure you are measuring up.
=>Sad is in the background for you, even when happy things are happening around you.
=>You have disconnected from your body, nothing affects you emotionally for days or weeks, then you explode in resentment and anger over everyone you love over something small.
=>You feel foggy and lost, not sure what your passions are any more or what would light you up even if you were to make time for yourself. You pretend to enjoy what others enjoy, its not about you and that’s fine.
If any of this feels familiar, you are soul tired or soul weary. It is your soul that requires attention.
We are spiritual beings connected to each other and nature and the Universal Source (God, Love, Light…). Our souls need that connection. Your soul needs to feel loved and heard and honored as the unique and special expression of Source that you are. You may be wanting your partner to meet this need for you, but you would be looking in the wrong place.
Your soul needs to sit with nature and feel supported by it or be able to dance or laugh or just stare at the stars. When you are connected to the universe, however you do it and whatever you call it, you feel alive and unique and special. You know where you fit and it feels joyful and fun.
Many of us deprioritize ourselves in the service of others, don’t make time for what lights us up or simply fall out of the habit of connecting to our own souls quietly. Or perhaps we have turned some of what could help us (praying, meditating, mindfulness exercises, nature walks etc) into “to-dos” on our long list.
If so, they become things we ‘have to’ or “should” do (if only we had the time) instead of things we “get to” do. Once we do that our inner resistance and internal struggle begins and we actually commit to not doing it whether it is on the list or not.
If any of this resonates, please make a quiet promise to yourself that this nonsense ends now!
Ask for help even if you aren’t sure who or what is listening to you. “Universe, please help me to find ways to enjoy feeding my soul”.
You are so special, quirky and unique. You were made that way on purpose, truly a perfect master piece. Listen to all the different aspects of you that want to play differently – your creative side, your need to recharge and be alone more, or perhaps that wild side.
Love and honor all the different parts of yourself. Allow yourself over time to love doing it, love the feeling of honoring yourself and to choose it first over anything else, because you deserve it.
Much love,
Joanna Peters
Ps. If no soul lifting activities are coming to you right away, check out my “Rainy day gifts to your soul” list for some simple ideas to get started and see if they work for you./”:
by Joanna Peters | Dec 21, 2019 | Random Thoughts
I’m quoting myself here, but this one is important. It was my biggest lesson and it took me the longest to learn fully. It winds up being a part of most private coaching sessions, because – frankly, us women stink at knowing this.
Societal conditioning is against us:
“She is such a good Mom” (when she is running herself ragged for others),
“Bless her, such a good wife “(as she is serving him dinner).
How often are we praised for taking care of ourselves?? Not as often for sure. Which is why we must really know this for ourselves sisters!!!
– Pat ourselves on the back for being kind to ourselves and saying “no” to someone.
– Throw ourselves a dance party when we make time for doing something we love.
– Physically hug and compliment ourselves.
– Smile to ourselves as our relationships improve because we know the recipe for connection with others is self-love. They are welcome ?
